The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-25
An Uneventful Joint Convention, with
NO Material Change in the Voting.
The senate's Despotic Majority Tramples or
the Right of Free Speech in Regard to
the Unjust Treatment Of the Minority.
Once More Green Smith Denies Citizens
the Privilege OF Being Heard.
Action on Reports and Bills Introduced-A
Proposed Law to Make Murder in Ger
tain Gases Merely a Msdemeanor.
RIGHT OF HEARING REFUSED.

RIGHT OF HEARING REFUSED.
JacksOn County Citizens Not Allowed to
Present a Protest to the Senate.
The anxiety of both Republicans and Demo
Gratis in regard to their absentees was relieved
ty all the members of both houses, except Rep
resentative Worrall. answering to the IL o'clock
opening of the session yesterday morning Rep.
resentative Worral is sick at his home in Bloom
1ngton, but his pair with Representative o.
borne, OF Tippecanoe, made everything safe for
The joint convention The Senate and House
had only one hour for the transaction of BUSH
sess. but in the former body the irascible ma
Sority had its temper tried by the resolutions
passed by jackson county citizens denunciatory
OF the unjust and tyrannica unseating of Sena-
tor W. N. Mcdonald. This fearless scoring of
an INSCRIPTIONS majority came from people
irrespective Of party, and that made it intoler-
able to the Senators who aided the Bailey COM
mittee in its political devltry in depriving Sena-
TOR Mcdonald OF every vestige of right to be
heard in his own defense. When the preamble
and resolutions were sent to the Secretary by
Senator Winter to be read. the Democrats were
Off their guard, but few lines gave the meaning
OF the paper, and at this Senator Smith, of Jen-
nings, who has trouble in suppressine his temper
under the slightest provocation to anger. de-
nounced it as unfit to be heard by the Senate.
1t conveyed stigma upon the majority and
questioned its action where there was no right
to question it. as the Senate had exclusive iudg
ment as to the fitness or unfitness legality or
allegallty of its members. He peremptorily cut
short the reading, when Senator Winter OBJ
jected strongly, claiming that it was the right of
every citizen to address his representative on
the foor OF the Senate, and his petition for
hearing cannot be rejected. At this Senator
Smith holly replied that the Senate could reject
blackguardism. I'VE have no right he con-
'f1nusd. ito >olackgua by citizens of In
diana. or any other State. If Senators in the
minority desire to set it down for some day
when we can discuss it, they can do so other
wise, il the point of order is insisted upon, the
Chair will hold that the communication is an in
decent document and not fit to be read here.
II do not think said Senator Huston, that
1t will do any harm to have this petition first
read All communications should receive decent
and proper consideration"
III.
will fold that document up and it shall lie on
the table,"
is there motion to that effectl asked Sem
ator Winter
NO" replied Senator Smith, but have de-
cided it out of order. 1t can sleep here in the
bosom of righteousness" An appeal from this
arbitrary ruling was taken by Senator Campbell,
and the motion to lay it on the table was prompt
~ offered
The Republicans had some difficulty in being
heard in protesting against this despotic proceed
ing, but the fact that the denunciation expressed
the views of people who live very near the Dor
der of Senator A. G. Smiths bailiwick led him
to throw out his quilts in all directions The
yeas and nays were, of course, de-
mauded on the motion to Law on
the table, and this seemed to exasperate the
Senator in the chair, and ne appeared doubly
aggrisved when Senator Weir arose to explain
his vote. Said the Semi ., very determinedly:
"Belisving in the Of petition. and that
the expressions of citizens addressed to this
body should be heard, even If they are not
couched In proper language, / vote no. At the
same time hold that the Senate has the ex-
elusive right to judge its own members; but if
circumstances como here and they are in i'm
proper terms, after hearing them we can send
them back without action"
'sThat is the reason why declared the petit
ton out of ORDER said Senator Smith, of Jen-
nings.
And nevertheless, still vote no.n replied
Senator Weir. The vote resulted in so yeas to
Is nays, enc Republican being temporarily alb
sent.
The afternoon proceedings of.the Senate were
BRIEF on account of a motion of Senator Trippett
to adjourn in order to give the committees time
to do their work In the interval Senator Bailey
introduced q bill that will undergo rigid super-
vision before it takes the shape of law. He seeks
to have the killing of person who has criminal
ly offended wife, daughter or sister declared a
misdemeanor, with no greater punishment than
fine not exceeding $1,000 The bill goes
further and provides death penalty or one
that is more revolving for person who has
criminaiiy assaulted girl under twelve years
OF age. Otherwise the punishment for the
crime named is to be at most twenty -one years
imprisonment The lowest sentence now is five
years In the State prison, but the bill in question
lessons 1T to one year.
The Represent atives were notified nv Snaakar
Sayre that he had been issuing passes in blank.
on the application of members. They were de-
signed for but one days use Yet there were
many instances where they had been made to
read good for twenty or thirty DAYS Th;. ha
characterized as forgery, but, in doing so. did
net intend TO reflect on any of the Representa-
tives for he knew they were not guilty of r.
However. he had given instructions to have all
sucn passes taken up and admittance refused IN
those presenting them. All passes would. here.
after, be issued for but one day. Representative
Patton wanted to introduce bill out of the
usual order. and. permission being given. hs
sought after its reading force it through under
asuspension of the rules. 1t made it m isdemean-
or for any railroad company. operating wholly
or partly within the State to charge more than
cents per mile on passenger traffic. The uenaltv
for violation was fixed at fine not less than
$500 or mora than 81 600. The motion to sus-
pend the rules and place the bill at once on its
passage called out SO many noes that it was with
drawn.
The committee on Benevolent institutions re-
ported the Crosse and Ibach bills, relating to the
establishment of school for feeble minded chill.
dren. In the former the location is fixed a.
Anightstown. while the latter seeks to have tha